New Delhi: ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed was in India for the first time since the Oval fiasco.
Although he was in town to announce nominations for the ICC Awards later this year, he was inevitably asked about the events of the last couple of weeks.
Speed spoke to CNN-IBN's Sanjeeb Mukherjea on the issue.
Sanjeeb Mukherjea: Mr Speed, welcome to CNN-IBN. The Oval fiasco now has boiled down to a fiasco between Darrell Hair and the ICC authorities. How do you plan to tackle it and where exactly is the case standing? Is Darrell Hair’s career over?
Malcolm Speed: There were several questions there. For the first one, there is a process in place to deal with two very simple charges that rose from the match, the first one changing the condition of the ball; and the second one is bringing the game into disrepute in relation to the forfeiture of the match. So the process is there, we have been seeking to follow that process for some time and there will be a hearing in the last week of September.
I’ve said a number of times that we hope that Darrell Hair’s career is not over. He is one of the best umpires in the world and I hope we can find a way for him to continue to umpire at the top level.
Sanjeeb Mukherjea: Coming back to Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje, do you think that the questions of the law should be the deciding factor, as to the availability of a certain player or players, in various tournaments?
Malcolm Speed: The South African players recognise that when they visit another country, they are subject to the laws of the country. As I understand they are very happy to confide with the request that they be interviewed, and I hope that the process goes through uneventfully.
Sanjeeb Mukherjea: Mr Speed, one last question. Is there any backup plan for hosting the World Cup, if the preparations in the West Indies do not come through? And considering the overview of the security situation all around the world, how do you think the World Cup is placed?
Malcolm Speed: I don’t think there will be a serious issue in the West Indies. I have been there recently; all of the venues are being completed, and are coming along well. I think everyone will be very surprised to see how good they are.
There is a backup plan in place, as there is for any event, for instance there is a backup plan even for the Champions Trophy in India this year, and it should surprise all your viewers that we have put all these precautions in place.
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